Description

The San Gabriel Mission is a very important landmark in Los Angeles. One of the original founding buildings of the area, the mission was the central marker for the LA area in Mexican California. The mission was worked by Tongva/ Gabrielino tribe Native Americans. The mission was popularized by the 19th century novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson, about a half Indian half Anglo girl who grows up on the mission. Because of the book, Ramona pageants sprung up all over California; one was performed in the adjacent theatre next to the mission. Today, the mission is a Catholic church.